China's top legislator Zhao Leji met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Beijing on January 15, 2026, marking a significant step in cross-Pacific diplomacy. As chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, Zhao emphasized the progress made since President Xi Jinping and Carney's October 2025 meeting, which established a roadmap for bilateral cooperation.
The discussions focused on implementing leader-level consensus through enhanced collaboration in energy, agriculture, and supply chain resilience. Zhao proposed expanding legislative coordination between China's NPC and Canada's parliament, including joint efforts in legal framework development to support economic partnerships.
Carney reaffirmed Canada's commitment to the one-China policy while highlighting recent trade growth between the nations. "Our cooperation in critical minerals and sustainable agriculture demonstrates the practical benefits of strengthened ties," the Canadian leader stated, noting plans to increase academic and cultural exchanges.
Analysts observe this meeting signals both nations' intent to stabilize relations through institutionalized dialogue, particularly as global economic uncertainties persist into 2026. The talks concluded with agreements to establish new working groups on clean energy technology and cross-border e-commerce facilitation.
